Electric switch.



J. H. HALL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED ran. 24. 1913.

1,211,440. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

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JAY H. HALL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC CONTROLLER AND MANUFRCTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial No..75 0,18 9.

To all whom it may concern "Beit knownthat I, JAY H. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to magnetically-operated devices, and particularly to magnetically operated switches.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide aswitchhaving asingle magnet or winding which has the characteristic of ma tain n it con a t Open, n y when its winding is not energized, but also when it is energized above a certain value. The contacts are closed when the current in the windingisbelow this'value.

Another object isto cause the contacts to remain closed as long as the winding is energized.

Figure 1 shows one ofthe many forms my invention may'iassume. Fig. 2is a wiring diagram, showing the connections by which aseriesof these switches may be used to control an electric motor.

Beferrin t'o 1, the frame 2 .of the switch is s own as being mounted upon an insulating support .1, composed of slate, wood, or marble, andis held in place by means of thebolt 3. The frame 2 is prorided. with a core 4,.upon which is mounted a ma netizing winding .5, for operating the swit A movable arm 6 is pivoted to the frame at 7, the lower part of the arm being bifurcated, and spanning the lower portion ofvthe frame'j2 'which carries the pivot 7, thejframe extending to the lines 2 and 2 The armjcarries a movable plug 6*, which is attracted to. the cored when the winding is properly energized to operate the switch. The arm -6 has a surface which engages the surfaces 2 of the frame 2, which serves as a stop to determine the open position of the switchvarm. The arm 6 carries a contact 9 at its upp'er end,lwhich is adapted to engage a contact10," pivoted to the contact holder 8,

mounted upon theinsulating support 1,-and held in. position by the bolt 15. The main terminals of the switch are shown at 15 and 16', and theterminals of the winding are shown at..5 and 5*.

The frame 2," hecoree, and the arm 6 are referably "of magnetic material.

this $91 196 preferably of magnetic material, the outer end of which rests upon the upper portion 2 of the switch frame. RA hole 14 is provided in the support 1, through which the member 11 can pass when the switch is operated. Associated with the member 11 is a spiralspring12,adjustable by the screw 13, by which the force between the engaging surfaces of the member 11 and the frame p0rtionf2 can be adjusted. It will be readily understood that other forms of adjustment may be used than that shown in the drawings.

When a certam amount of current 1s passed through the switch winding 5, the

contact 9 is moved into engagement with the contact 10 by the closure of the gap between the core 4 and the arm 6. lVhen a current of a value exceeding a certain amount, however, is passed through the winding, the

magnetic flux passes through the core into the arm, and back to the frame by means of the member 11, and a force is produced between the sliding surfaces of the member 11 and theframe portion 2, which prevents the operation ofthe switch. When the current in the winding diminishes to a'certain value, this force at 2, obstructing the movement of the arm, gradually diminishes, and a value of current is reached at which the switch operates to close its contacts. seen, that if the winding is supplied with current of a certain value, the switch will operate, while if the winding is supplied with current exceeding that value, the switch will be locked open until the current diminishes to that value, whereupon it operates to close its contacts. After the switch has once operated, it willremain closed until practically no current flows in the winding, since R inthe motor circuit. Upon closure of the main switch S, current flows from the posi tive side of the source, through the motor M, the resistances R R and R, and the winding of the switch S" to 'thenegative side of It is thus 5 In starting a motor, it is desirable to delay the removal of the starting resistance until the motor has increased in speed to such an extent that the counter electro-motive force produced by the motor will cut down the starting current to a value at which a section of resistance can be removed safely from the motor circuit. The switch S will be adjusted, therefore, to be looked open by the initial flow of current upon the closure of the switch S, and it will remain in the open position until the current is reduced to a predetermined value, whereupon the switch S will close its contacts, as explained in my description of Fig. 1. In closing its con tacts, the switch S short-circuits the resistance section B, and connects into the motor circuit the winding of the switch S The increase of current in the motor circuit due to cutting out of resistance R will now be suflicient to lock open the switch S and the switch S will remain closed since its contacts are connected in series with its winding, and the motor current still flows through the switch winding. Upon a further increase of speed, the motor will increase its counter electro-motive force and reduce the current in the motor circuit to a value at which it will be safe to cut out the resistance section If the switch S is adjusted to close at this value, it will close its contacts, short-circuit the resistance R and connect into the motor circuit the winding of the switch S The switch S will, in a similar manner, he first locked open by an increase of current in the motor circuit, and will then operate when the current has reduced to the proper value, and short-circuit the resistance The motor current now flows from the positive side of the source, through the motor M, the contacts of the switch S the winding of the switch S the contacts of the switch S the winding of the switch S the contacts of the switch S, and the winding of the switch S to the negative side of the source. The motor will now run at its normal full speed, and will continue to do so until it is cut off from the source of supply by the opening of the switch S. The windings of all the switches are thereby deenergized, and the switches will go to their open position in readiness for another operation.

It will be readily understood that my improved switch can be used in other arrangements for controlling an electric circuit wherein it is desirable to cause the switch to remain open when the current through its winding is above a predetermined value, and to close its contacts when the current is reduced.

I claim- 1. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a movable member, a brake member having travel with the movable member, a

second brake member, adapted to be in frictional engagement with the first brake memher, and means including a winding arranged to move the movable member when current therein is at a predetermined value and to produce such friction between the brake members as to prevent the movement of the movable member when current in the winding is above the said value.

2. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a movable member, normally open contacts closable thereby, a brake member having travel with the movable member, a second brake member adapted to be in frictional engagement with the first brake member, and means including a winding adapted to produce such friction between the brake members as to prevent the winding from moving the movable member and closing the contacts when current in the winding is above a predetermined value.

3. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a magnetizable frame, a movable mechanism, a winding for operating the same and magnetizing the frame, and means for preventing any movement of said mechanism when the current in the winding exceeds a certain value, said means comprising a magnetizable member in sliding engagement with said frame.

4:. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a magnetizable frame, a movable mechanism, a winding for operating the same and magnetizing the frame, and means for preventing any movement of said mechanism when the current in the winding exceeds a certain value, said means comprising a magnetizable member pivoted to said mechanism and in sliding engagement with said frame.

5. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a magnetizable frame, a winding arranged when supplied with current to magnetize the frame, a movable mechanism actuated thereby, a magnetizable member slidable on said frame, and means whereby said winding when energized with current above a certain value produces a pressure between said member and the frame which prevents any movement of said mechanism.

6. In an electro-magnetically operated device, a magnetizable frame, a winding arranged when supplied with current to magnetize the frame, a mechanism movable thereby, and means for preventing any movement of the mechanism when the current in the winding exceeds a certain value, said means comprising a member adapted to engage both the frame and the mechanism, said member being pivoted to one and frictionally engaging the other.

7. In a magnetically-operated switch, a magnetic circuit including a movable Switch memberand a magnetizable frame, a winding therefor, and a restricted magnetic shunt for said magnetic circuit comprising a member pivoted to the switch member and in frictional engagement with said frame.

8. In a magnetically-operated switch, a magnetic circuit including a movable switchmember and a magnetizable frame, a winding therefor, and a restricted magnetic shunt for preventing the movement of said member, said shunt being movably joined to said member and in frictional engagement with said magnetizable frame.

9. In a switch, a movable switch-member,

' a magnetizable frame, a winding surrounding a portion of said frame and adapted to attract the said member toward said frame portion, and a restricted magnetic shunt pivoted to said switch-member and slidably engaging said magnetizable frame, said shunt being acted upon by the winding to prevent Copies of this patent may be obtained for the movement of the said member toward the frame portion when the current in the circuit exceeds a predetermined value.

10. In a magnetically-operated switch, a magnetic circuit including a movable switch member and a magnetizable frame member, a winding for moving the switch member, and a restricted magnetic shunt for pre venting the movement of the switch member, said shunt being movably joined to one of said members and in frictional engagement with the other of said members.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 20th day of February, A. D. 1913.

JAY H. HALL.

V Vitnesses;

RUTH H. BENNETT, H. M. DIEMER.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

